Millions of Thais are sending their best wishes to Her Majesty Queen Sirikit, who turns 74 today with the entrenched status as the beloved "Mother of the Land".

Through her tireless devotion to her people and inspirational tenderness over the past several decades, it comes as no surprise that people are now sporting light-blue shirts as a tribute to their beloved Queen.

Their prayers are also with her as she recuperates from an eye operation, which prevented her from delivering her usual televised birthday speech this year.

Her Majesty is truly a mother figure. Besides her many royal projects like the Support Foundation for the well-being of her people, she has always reached out to those in need.

Thanpuying Chatrakaew Nandhabhiwat said that Her Majesty follows the news closely and constantly extends help to good people living in unfortunate circumstances.

Her gracious assistance and care have gone out to them even when they never expected such benevolence. Among them are Good Samaritan Chris Benjakul, Ratchaburi school-bus-shooting scapegoat Zaw Bi, innocent victims of the southern violence like teacher Juling Panganmoon and young boy Patcharapol Charoensil, as well as abandoned babies. Chris, a rising actor with a bright future who was in his 20s, was critically injured in 1999 when he was trying to help a road-accident victim but ended up being hit by a motorcycle. Not only did Her Majesty offer to pay for Chris' medical fees, but also her heart was really in it.

"Her Majesty has said she would personally pray for his (Chris') speedy recovery," Thanpuying Charungjit Teekara said in "The Power of Love" book, which was published to commemorate Her Majesty's sixth-cycle birthday two years ago.

HRH Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn describes her mother as the "Mother of the Nation".

"Though she is against extravagance, she has spent unstintingly on education and books because they are about knowledge. Knowledge allows us to work for people and for the country," the Princess wrote.

In her book, the Princess recounted how her mother had granted scholarships to disadvantaged students and how she sent ill people to hospitals and picked up their medical bills.

Their Majesties also had their accompanying doctors treat the sick they met during their visits upcountry.

"Mum is my first teacher … she has given me the attitudes that usefully guide my life," the Princess said.

Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) will host a tree planting ceremony today as part of the celebrations marking the 74th birthday of Her Majesty the Queen.

BMA Spokesman Isra Sunthornwat said yesterday that the ceremony, titled ‘Bangkok City of Life,’ will be held at Suan Pa Chalermprakiat Park on Boromratchonnanee Road in Thawi-Watthana district on the Thon Buri side of the city.

Governor Apirak Kosayodhin will preside over the event and will lead BMA officials and the public in planting trees at the park.

“The event follows on from last year’s campaign when…trees were planted on the same occasion,” Isra said.

“It is also aimed at promoting the BMA’s green environment campaign to create more green spaces in the city,” he said.

Isra said increased green space in the city is beneficial to the public who can use such areas for exercise or relaxing.

Aside from today’s planting ceremony, Isra announced that 114 trees from the British embassy compound are to be replanted at parks around Bangkok.

The trees have been growing in the embassy’s grounds for over 40 years, but after the land they are on was sold to a business group for commercial use the embassy decided to donate the trees to the BMA.

Meanwhile, Col Khunying Asnee Saowapap, chairwoman of the National Council on Social Welfare’s special events committee, said that the council, in cooperation with the Army Housewives Association and the Interior Ministry Housewives Association, yesterday served free meals to 400 needy and disabled people in the courtyard of the council’s office to celebrate the Queen’s birthday. The meals were paid for by Her Majesty’s royal charity.

“Those who received the meals, who were either poor, unemployed or disabled people from Setsathian School for the blind or the Thai Disabled Development Foundation, were very happy to eat a meal from Her Majesty,” she said.

The council will also hold two concerts to commemorate Mother’s Day today. One will be at the Suan Amporn Building next to the Royal Plaza at noon and the other will be held at The Mall Department Store in Bang Kapi at 1pm.

Yesterday, Supreme Commander Gen Ruengroj Mahasaranont, along with officials and representatives from the National Police Bureau and other organizations, participated in a religious ceremony at his office to mark Her Majesty’s 74th birthday.

The operator of Bangkok’s subway, the Bangkok Metro Public Company (BMCL), also announced yesterday that it too will mark Her Majesty’s birthday.

The BMCL will be selling a special, 120 baht one-day pass today that will allow unlimited subway travel throughout the day.